LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Fire the cannons. The Aggies are going bowling once again.
 
NM State (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) clinched a trip to a bowl game for the second consecutive season as they defeated Middle Tennessee (2-7, 1-4) 13-7 inside Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening. With the win, the 2023 Aggies cemented themselves in history as this marks the first time that NM State has earned bowl bids in back-to-back seasons since the 1959 and 1960 seasons.
 
On the offensive end, Diego Pavia led the Aggies with 220 yards passing and another 67 with his feet. Meanwhile, Monte Watkins' explosiveness out of the backfield helped him pace the Aggies in rushing yards with 68. In the receiving category, converted quarterback Eli Stowers was once again Pavia's primary target as the Denton, Texas, native hauled in six passes for 83 yards.
 
Defensively, Jordan Vincent turned in yet another solid performance from the safety position, finishing the game with a team-best 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Keyshaun Elliott finished second on the team in tackles with seven while Sterling Webb had one of the best games of his young career as he posted five tackles and a sack.
 
FIRST QUARTER
The opening quarter of action set the tone for the game and proved that the team's defenses would be the one's controlling the outcome of the game as the two sides combined to punt the ball five times in the first quarter.
 
With the defenses' having the biggest impact in the early goings of the game, it was the NM State defense who stood out even more as MTSU amassed only 27 yards of total offense in the first period of the contest. However, the Blue Raiders did force an interception from Diego Pavia who was picked off for the first time since Oct. 4.
 
Following the interception, the Aggies began what would be their best offensive drive of the night as the quarter came to a close.
 
Scoring plays: None
 
End Q1: NM State – 0, MTSU – 0
 
SECOND QUARTER
After a completion to Eli Stowers to end the first quarter, Diego Pavia rushed the ball for 44 yards across the next three plays to set the Aggies up on the MTSU three-yard line. From there, Jamoni Jones punched the ball into the end zone. Or so it appeared.
 
Following a review, the officials brought the ball back out to the one-yard line which allowed NM State to hand the ball off to tight end Ron Tiavaasue who recorded the first rush of his career and scored the touchdown to put the Aggies ahead 7-0.
 
Several drives later, MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato drove the Blue Raiders 79 yards down the field in just 54 seconds to even the score with a 27-yard touchdown pass to DJ England-Chisolm.
 
With just 48 seconds remaining on the clock, the Aggies refused to allow the seconds just tick off the clock as was evident by the second play call of the drive when Pavia connected with Jonathan Brady for a 32-yard pass up the left side of the field. 42 yards later, the Aggies set themselves up for a 26-yard field goal that try that Ethan Albertson connected on as the final seconds ran off the clock.
 
Scoring plays: Ron Tiavaasue rushing TD (1 yard), DJ Chisolm-England receiving TD (27 yards), Ethan Albertson FG (26 yards)
 
End Q2: NM State 10, MTSU 7
 
THIRD QUARTER
Once again, the defenses came to play to start the half as both offenses tallied exactly 87 yards of production. After MTSU recorded the game's first turnover in the first quarter, NM State decided to collect a turnover of its own as Dylan Early intercepted an overthrown pass from Vattiato on the Blue Raiders' opening possession of the second half.
 
Later in the quarter, the Aggies found themselves on their own 13-yard line, but just two plays into the drive, Monte Watkins broke away for a 35-yard rush that was nearly an 82-yard touchdown had it not been for a shoestring tackle in front of the MTSU bench from Tra Fluellen. The Aggies did eventually drive the ball down to the Blue Raider 21-yard line, but were forced to attempt a 38-yard field goal. Ethan Albertson continued to prove why he is one of the best kickers in Aggie history as he nailed the kick to put the Aggies ahead by a touchdown.
 
Scoring plays: Ethan Albertson field goal (38 yards)
 
End Q3: NM State – 13, MTSU – 7
 
FOURTH QUARTER
With a lead in hand, the Aggie offense gained just 37 yards in the final quarter of the game, including only three rushing yards.
 
Instead, it was the desperate MTSU offense who was able to move the ball and apply pressure to the Aggie defense. Luckily for the Aggie fans in the stands, the NM State defense was prepared for the challenge as they gave up zero points to secure the victory.
 
The Blue Raiders final drive was nearly the game changer as they worked the ball down inside the red zone. With just nine seconds on the clock, MTSU faced a 4^th-and-nine from the Aggie 15-yard line. On the final play of the game, MTSU attempted to throw into double coverage, but the pass sailed over Elijah Metcalf's head – triggering elated celebration from the Aggie bench and 15,000 fans in the stands.
 
Scoring plays: None
 
FINAL: NM State – 13, MTSU – 7

Head Coach Jerry Kill on what the win means to him
"I'm excited for the kids," continued Kill. "Because it's about the players. It's not about anything else. It's not about Coach Kill. It's not about assistant coaches. It's not about anybody. It's about the players."
 
Head Coach Jerry Kill on the crowd
"Since I've been here, our fans have made a difference. They (MTSU) had several false starts. Our fans were loud and it felt like a college football game."